Automatic stick-confection mechanism



May 5, 1959 M. B. RASMUSSON 2,884,875

AUTOMATIC STICK-CONFECTIQN MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 XIX [Z [XIX lZHZHXHEZHXlXHZHZHZHX g n A; IQ "I;

- INVENTOR. MARLIN B. RASMUSS ON A T TORNE rs y 5, 19.59 v M. B. RAsMussoN 2,884,875

AUTOMATIC STICK-CONFECTION MECHANISM Fil ed Oct. 17, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. MARLIN B. RASMUSSO/l (Mr MM A T TOPNE YS y M. B. RASMUSSON 2,884,875

AUTOMATIC STICK-CONFECTION MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

'INVENTOR. MARLIN B. RASMUSSON ldwz A T TORNEVS y 1959 v y M. B. RASMUSSON 2,884,875

AUTOMATIC STICK-CONFECTION MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 4 I .1 i 1 I l i V 22 INVENTOR.

W MARLIN B. RASMUSSON :4 BYz/jii ,rMM

A T TORNE VS May 5, 1959 M. B. RASMUSSON AUTOMATIC STICK-CONFECTION MECHANISM! 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 INVENTOR. MARLl/V B. RASMUSSON A TTORNEYS United States Patent 2,884,875 AUTOMATIC STICK-CONFECTION MECHANISM Marlin B. Rasmussen, Sacramento, Calif. Application October 17, 1955, Serial No. 541,012 9 Claims. (Cl. 107-8) My invention relates to mechanisms for use in providing confections such as ice cream confections, water ice confections and the like which are made to incorporate a holding stick. The demand for confections of this sort has increased and, unfortunately, the costs of providing the individual units have likewise increased, partly because of the-large amount of handling necessary, partly because of the large amount and partly because of the length of time consumed in the present manufacture.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an automatic stick-confection mechanism which will be a substantial improvement over the manufacturing structures now utilized. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a stickconfection mechanism which is substantially entirely automatic, utilizing very few attendants and utilizing them primarily for supervisory functions.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic stick-confection mechanism which operates at a relatively rapid rate to produce the finished product.

Another object. of my invention is to maintain a of manual labor necessary highly sanitary manufacturing operation partly by the reduction in the amount of manual labor involved.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a stick-confection mechanism, the various portions of which are synchronized to produce .a smooth flowing production line operating at a relatively rapid rate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stick-confection mechanism in which various components, although included in the mechanism, can be arranged as desired to accommodate various different installation requirements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatic stick-confection mechanism which is versatile in its use so that various sorts of stick-confections can be made from time to time.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a stick-confection mechanism that is compact, reliable in operation, relatively simple to install and maintain and relatively economical to manufacture and operate.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 Figure 1 is a plan of an automatic stick-confection mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, certain portions of the surrounding structures being broken away to reduce the extent of thefigure.

Figure 2 is a cross section to an enlarged scale through the entrance portion of the mechanism, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1 and portions of the figure being broken away to reduce its extent. I

Figure 3 is a view to substantially the scale of Figure 2 showing various parts of the mechanism in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 3-3- of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed cross section substantially to the scale of Figures 2 and 3 showing another portion of the mechanism in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross section of a detail, the plane of section being indicated by the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan of part of a conveyor structure.

Figure 7 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of part of the exit area of the structure to substantially the scale of Figures 2 and 3, the plane of section being indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 1. t

Figure 9 is a detailed cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Stick confections are normally made in a mold 6 which is substantially a rectangular box having a plurality of mold cavities 7 formed therein. Usually there are four files of such cavities with six cavities in each file. The mold 6 is of relatively open construction for the most part to provide a somewhat rounded rectangular frame. Molds of this sort are commercially available and while they vary somewhat in design have generally common characteristics. Operating with the mold much of the time is a stick holder 8 (Figure 8) including an entirely separate structure from the mold which, however, can rest within the mold to hold the necessary sticks. The stick holder is provided with a mechanism so that the sticks can be firmly retained in the stick holder or can be released therefrom. This also is a standard commercial item, various forms being available, although the general construction and mode of operation are standard.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a main frame 9 suitably supported on the floor and at a convenient location carrying an entrance mold conveyor 13. This conveyor (Figure 2, Figure 6, Figure 7) comprises a pair of chains 14 arranged to operate around suitable pairs of sprockets 16 and 17 journaled on shafts 18 appropriately mounted in the frame 12. The chains 14 comprise successive interlocking links having attachment areas 19 thereon for the reception of fastenings 21 securing in position cross plates 22 and outwardly extending cleats 23.

The cleats in cross section preferably have approximately upright sides and beveled tops. The distance apart of successive cleats is appropriate to allow proper spacing of successive molds 6 and for that reason the cleats are usually aflixed only to alternate links 14.

In order that the entrance mold conveyor 13 can be appropriately advanced, there is provided on the frame 12 a pneumatically actuated cylinder 26 having a piston rod 27 which reciprocates a carriage 28 within guide members 29 on the frame 12. Mounted on the carriage is an overbalanced pawl lever 31 normally resting in the position shown in Figure 2. When the cylinder 26 is provided with suitable compressed air from an appropriate source (not shown) the carriage 28 is projected and the pawl lever 31 similarly is projected and abuts the side of an adjacent cleat 23. The stroke of the carriage is just sufficient to advance the cleat from one position into a new position previously occupied by the adjacent cleat. At this point in its projection, the carriage 28 is returned to its previous position since a depending member 32. thereon engages a switch 33 on the frame 12 and reverses the pneumatic connections to the cylinder 26. The cylinder therefore retracts the piston rod 27 and carriage during which time the pawl lever 31 deflects to pass beneath the succeeding cleat coming to rest finally in its initial position ready for a successive stroke,

Byoperating the cylinder 26 repeatedly, the conveyor chain 14 is advanced cyclically, step by step.

A filled mold, but without a stick holder therein, ismanually'placed on the entrance mold conveyor 13 between successive cleats 23 by an attendant. The cylinder 26 is appropriately energized and advances the entrance mold conveyor one step at a time with the attendant placing a new mold on the available space betweensuccessive cleats on the conveyor until such time as at least six such molds have been loaded into the machine. During this time and as the molds advance along the entrance conveyor 13, each of them is also preferably provided manually with a stick holder. As the machine is so initially charged, there are eventually six molds equipped with six stick holders occupying the entrance conveyor 13. When that number of molds and stick holders is in position, the initial mold has travelled substantially to the end of the conveyor 13 and there engages a pair'of switches 34 and 36. One of these is in the pneumatic circuit to the cylinder 26 so that no more cylinder reciprocation can take place until the entrance conveyor 13 has been partially relieved of its load and the other switch is effective to energize a mechanism for advancing the molds and their stick holders to a subsequent position.

As especially shown in Figure 3, the molds and stick holders on the entrance conveyor 13 when the conveyor is fully charged, as shown in Figure 2, are disposed in longitudinal alignment with a transition platform 37 mounted on the main frame 12 and disposed intermediate the conveyor 13 and an elevator mechanism, generally designated 41. The elevator is located within and at one end of a brine tank 42. This is a generally rectangular enclosure open at the top and having heavily insulated walls 43 for the retention of brine or other refrigerant solution or medium therein substantially to the level of the broken line 44 in Figure 3. The brine is maintained at the desired low temperature by means of refrigerator coils or pipes 46 connecting to a refrigerating system (not shown). The effect of this structure is to provide a body of refrigerant, such as brine, maintained at a relatively low temperature within the brine tank 42.

The elevator 41 includes a platform 47 extending entirely across the tank except for some clearance at the sides and of a length approximately equivalent to that of one of the molds 6. The elevator platform 47 is mounted at the upper end of a piston rod 48 passing through a stuffing gland 49 into an elevator compartment 51 built within one end of the tank 42 and open to the atmosphere. The piston rod 48 enters into a cylinder 52 and is connected to a piston 53 therein. The cylinder 52 is connected to a suitable supply of compressed air and has sufiicient travel so that when the rod 48is projected the platform 47 is substantially on a level with the transition platform 37 whereas when the platform 47 is in its lower position, the molds 6 thereon are immersed to precisely the right depth below the level of the brine 44.

Means are provided for transferring the filled molds 6 from their position on the entrance conveyor 13 over the transition platform 37 onto the elevator platform 47 in its uppermost position. For that reason, there is provided on a superstructure included in the frame 12 a cross bar 56 at an appropriate elevation to abut one end of each of six of the filled molds 6. The cross bar 56 depends from a carriage 57 operating in parallel channels 58 included in the superstructure. The carriage 57 is propelled by a piston rod 59 actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 61 suitably connected to a source of pneumatic fluid.

The connections of the cylinder 61 are controlled by theswitch 34 so that as soon as the leading mold 6 abuts the switch. 34, the cylinder 61-is actuated and the piston I'Od'l59 is J projected to advance the carriage 57 so that the bar 56 pushessix-ofthe filledmolds lengthwise from the entrance conveyor 13 across the transition platform 37 and onto the raised elevator platform 47. When the molds are approximately in their correct position on the elevator platform, a switch 62 on the superstructure and in the path of advance of the carriage 57 is actuated to reverse the connections to the cylinder 61 so that the pusher bar 56 along with the carriage 57 is returned to its initial position with the restoration of the piston rod 59 to its retracted location within the cylinder 61. The carriage 57 is then in position for the reception and advancement ofa second series of six molds. Also, when the first series of six molds has moved forward out of contact with the switch 36 the cylinder 26 is again connected to advance the entrance conveyor 13 step by step as the filled molds are placed thereon and as the stick holders are inserted therein. As soon as six more molds are assembled, the cycle just described repeats so-that by the operation of this mechanism, successive batches of six molds each are cyclically transferred from the entrance conveyor onto the elevator platform 47.

As the filled molds come to rest in proper position on the elevator platform 47 and as the switch 62 restores the carriage 57, that switch also is effective upon the connections to the cylinder 52 so that the cylinder is gradually lowered from its raised position into the-lower position'shown in Figure-3. When the piston rod 48 reaches its lowermost position, an arm 65 thereon engages a switch 66 effective to energize mechanism for advancing the mold and stick holders on the platform 47 into a successive position within the brine tank. Passing through the end wall of the brine tank is a piston rod 67 having a pusher bar 68 mounted thereon and extending for the width of the brine tank. The piston rod 67 passes through a suitable packing 69 and extends to a piston 71 within a cylinder 72ap'propriately fastened on the framework 12. The efiect of the switch 66 being closed is to energize the cylinder 72 to project the piston rod 67 so that the pusher bar 68 is advanced. The pusher bar engages the rearward portions of the longitudinally aligned filled molds in the brine and advances the six molds to a position on a supporting runway 73 mounted withinthe brine tank. As the pusher 68 gets to its foremost position with the molds fully discharged from the elevator platform 47 and suitably supported on the runway 73, a switch 74 is'engaged by a projection 75 on the pusher bar 68 and the connections to the cylinder 72 are reversed so that the'p'usher bar is retracted into its Figure 3 position ready for the next cycle. There is thus provided means not'only for removing the molds from the elevator platform but for' starting the molds on a trip through the brine tank' supported by the runway 73.

Aspart'icularly shown in Figure 9, the runway 73 is at 'ir'i'tervals'provided with appropriate perforations'76 so that the brine'can circulate" freely up into and through 73 and from side to side of the tank, being imperforate except fora throat 83 adjacent which apropeller 84 is located. A shaft 86 supports and turns the propeller and passes through a stufling box' 87 in the wall of the brine tank. A drive motor 88 is connected to'the shaft 86 through the customary belting 89 so that when the motor is energized the propeller 84 is revolved to circulate the brine not only in and around the molds but also with good velocity over the various. cooling coils 46. Preferably, the direction of flow of the brine is in the direction of the arrow 91 in Figure 8 so that the direction of flow above the runway 73 is in the general direction of advance of the molds thereon.

With the arrangement as so far described, a series of six molds is displaced from the elevator platform 47 periodically andis deposited on the runway 73. Succeeding series of six molds are similarly displaced by the pusher bar 68 acting cyclically and as each succeeding series is dislodged from the platform 47 it forces ahead of it the preceding series so that a number of series of molds extending transversely of the brine tank are periodically and cyclically advanced from the entrance end of the tank adjacent the elevator 41 toward the opposite end of the tank. As the molds traverse the length of the brine tank, their contents become suitably congealed. The timing of the machine is such that the liquid confection in the molds when they enter the brine is adequately congealed by the time the molds reach the opposite end of the tank.

Means are provided for removing the molds from the tank for subsequent processing. While it is not possible to utilize an incline at the entrance end of the brine tank since the confection within the molds is liquid and might spill, that is not the case at the discharge end since the confection has sufiiciently congealed so as to remain within the molds. For that reason, as shown especially in Figure 8, adjacent the opposite or discharge or exit end of the brine tank, the runway 73 merges with an inclined platform 92 so that the molds advanced by their predecessors which, in turn, are advanced by the pusher bar 68, are forced up the incline 92 out of the brine therein and over the end wall of the brine tank.

Arranged across the exit end of the brine tank in a fashion quite comparable to the arrangement of the entrance conveyor 13 is an exit conveyor 93. The exit conveyor is cyclically advanced by mechanism substantially identical with that utilized in connection with the entrance conveyor and shown in Figure 2.

The timing of the mechanism is such that the exit conveyor 93 is stationary during the advancing cycle of the pusher bar 68 so that the conveyor 93 is in a receptive position as a series or rank of molds filled with frozen confection is moved up the incline 92 and is advanced from that incline between the cleats 94 of the exit conveyor. When the rank of six molds has been positioned on the conveyor 93, the leading end of a mold engages a switch 95 (Figure 4) mounted on the frame 12. When energized, the switch 95 causes the pneumatic mechanism to advance the exit conveyor 93 step by step to discharge the six molds. During this time, advancement of the pusher bar 68 is prevented. A fence 96 pivoted on the frame 12 by a crossbar 97 operates a switch 98 disabling the pusher bar 68. By this means, it is assured that the conveyor 93 is emptied of filled molds before the succeeding part of the mechanism can operate.

As particularly shown in Figure 1, the filled molds with the frozen confections therein and with the sticks frozen in the confections are advanced by the conveyor 93 into a defrost structure 101. This is illustated diagrammatically herein and is more particularly illustrated, described and claimed in my co-pending application entitled Automatic Defroster, filed October 17, 1955, with Serial Number 541,013, now Patent No. 2,863,403 dated December 9, 1958. The effect of the defroster 101 is to immerse the molds 6 momentarily in hot Water to free the confections with their encased sticks from the molds. A physical separation of the stick holders from the molds is made with the sticks still gripped in the stick holders so that the frozen confections on the sticks proceed with the stick holders whereas the molds, being detached, proceed separately. The molds are discharged without confections and stickhdlders from the defroster 101 onto a belt conveyor 102. This extends along the exit end of the brine tank and discharges against a corner guide 103 so that the molds are then engaged by a longitudinal transfer conveyor 104. The belt conveyor 104 carries the empty molds to a mold filler 106. This structure is illustrated only diagrammatically herein but has for its function the filling of the now empty molds with appropriate quantities of liquid confection for freezing.

An appropriate mold filler is described, illustrated and claimed in detail in my co-pending application entitled Automatic Filler for Confection Molds, filed October 17, 1955, with Serial Number 541,014, now Patent No. 2,850,051, dated September 2, 1958. Filled molds from the mold filler are either discharged automatically by the conveyor 104 onto the entrance conveyor 13 for recycling or are manually transferred from the mold filler to the entrance conveyor 13, depending upon the particular installation. Preferably, the transfer is automatically made in time with the operation of the rest of the structure so that the circuit of the molds 6 in the mechanism is complete and controlled and automatic, not requiring the intervention of any manual handling so that the molds are maintained in a sanitary condition and so that they recirculate frequently to reduce their periods of inactivity.

At the defroster 101, the separated stick holders with their depending sticks and the frozen confections hanging therefrom are carried by a suitable conveyor 107 through a chill tunnel 108, a dipping or coating device 109 and a second chill tunnel 111. These structures are illustrated only diagrammatically herein but are shown in my Patent 2,559,463, entitled Confection Making Apparatus, issued July 3, 1951. These structures are effective to cool the confections after they have left the defrost structure so that the outer surface of the confections is again chilled. They are dipped in the dipper 109 into any suitable coating, such as chocolate, and are then chilled again by passing through the tunnel 111.

As the filled stick holders are further advanced from the chill tunnel 111 by the conveyor 107, they enter into a bagger 112. In the bagger, illustrated diagrammatically herein, the confections and their embedded sticks are released from the stick holders, are placed in enclosing bags and are released onto a conveyor belt 113 for further packing. A bagger of this sort is shown in my co-pending application entitled Stick Confection Machine filed June 6, 1955, with Serial Number 513,526, new Patent No. 2,842,921 dated July 15, 1958. This structure is efiective after the stick confections have been removed from the stick holders and have been bagged to advance the new empty stick holders through a corner guide 114 onto a conveyor 116 leading to a stick inserter 117. In the stick inserter, shown diagrammatically herein, the now empty stick holders are again supplied with a full complement of depending Wooden sticks and from the stick inserter are placed in the previously filled molds on the entrance conveyor 13. The stick holders with the sticks inserted can be manually transferred from the stick inserter onto the conveyor 13 but, preferably, this operation is done in time with the operation of the rest of the structure.

By this means, not only do the molds circulate in a closed cycle but the stick holders likewise circulate in a partly difiterent closed circuit moving cyclically with the operation of the rest of the machine but going through the routine repeatedly and relatively quickly so that the stick holders remain untouched by anything other than madhinery and so that they are frequently and rapidly utilized to reduce their idle time. There is thus provided a pair of closed circuits, partly in common, for the molds and for the stick holders so that all of the operations of the plant are automatic to provide a mechanism for taking in the necessary confection, taking in the necessary sticks and necessary bags and providing a completed .7 product on the conveyor 113. The operation of the structure, after its initial starting, continues indefinitely so long as the various molds are present in the requisite location to actuate the various switches. There is thus provided an automatic stick-confection machine.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic stick-confection mechanism comprising a brine tank having an entrance and an exit, an entrance mold conveyor extending across said entrance and adapted to support a plurality of molds thereon, an elevator in said tank movable between upper and lower positions, means actuated by a mold on said entrance mold conveyor for transferring a plurality of molds on said entrance mold conveyor to said elevator in upper position, means actuated by said transferring means for lowering said elevator and said molds thereon into a lower position within said tank, means actuated by said elevator for advancing said lowered molds through said tank, an exit mold conveyor for receiving said molds advanced through said tank, and means actuated by said molds on said exit mold conveyor for preventing operation of said advancing means.

2. An automatic stick-confection medhanism comprising an elongated brine tank, means within said tank and operable between upper and lower positions for a lowering a plurality of molds into one portion of said brine tank adjacent one end thereof, means for advancing said plurality of lowered molds simultaneously through said brine tank from said one end to the other end thereof, means including an incline for receiving and lifting said plurality of advancing molds from another portion of said brine tank adjacent said other end thereof, means for supporting said plurality of lifted molds at the margin of said brine tank adjacent said other end of said brine tank, and means for guiding said advancing molds in said brine tank.

3. An automatic stick-confection mechanism comprising an elongated brine tank having an entrance at one end and an exit at the other end, an entrance mold conveyor extending across said tank entrance, means including a cross bar engageable with a mold on said entrance mold conveyor for transferring said mold to a position above said tank, means including a device engaged by said mold on said entrance mold conveyor for actuating said transferring means, means including an elevator in said tank for lowering said mold from said position above said tank into a position within said tank, an exit mold conveyor extending across said tank exit, means including a ramp in said tank and extending to said exit mold conveyor for guiding said mold from said position within said tank onto said exit mold conveyor, and means including a pusher within said tank for advancing said mold from said position Within said tank up said ramp onto said exit mold conveyor.

4. An automatic stick-confection mechanism comprising an elongated brine tank having an entrance and an exit, a horizontal entrance mold conveyor extending transversely across said entrance and being adapted to support a plurality of molds thereon, means including an elevator vertically movable between upper and lower positions within said tank adjacent said entrance for supporting a plurality of molds, means for horizontally transferring a plurality of molds on said entrance mold conveyor to said elevator in the upper position thereof, means including a device engageable by one of said plurality of molds on said mold conveyor for actuating said transferring means, means for lowering said elevator with said plurality of molds thereon from said upper position into said lower position, means actuated by said transferring means for operating said lowering means, means for advancing said plurality of lowered molds through said tank, means actuated by said elevator in said lower position for operating said advancing means, a horizontal exit mold conveyor extending transversely across said exit,

and means including a device engageable by one of said plurality of molds advancing through said tank for activating said exit mold conveyor.

5. An automatic stick-confection mechanism comprising a brine tank having an entrance and an exit and having a predetermined brine level therein, means in said tank for supporting a mold in a position partly below said brine level, means including a horizontal conveyor extending across said entrance for conveying a mold to said entrance above said level, means for taking a mold from said entrance conveyor and positioning said mold over said tank above said level, means controlled by said mold on said entrance conveyor for actuating said taking and positioning means, means including an elevator for engaging said mold when positioned over said tank and for lowering said mold to said position partly below said brine level, means controlled by said taking and positioning means for actuating said engaging means, means including a pusher for advancing said mold in said position partly below said level over said supporting means, means controlled by said engaging means for actuating said advancing means, a support adjacent said exit for receiving a mold advanced over said supporting means, and means including a device engageable by said mold on said support for preventing the operation of said advancing means.

6. An automatic stick-confection mechanism compris ing a frame, a brine tank associated with said frame and having an entrance and an exit, an elevator in said tank adjacent said entrance and adapted to support a group of molds, means on said frame and connected to said elevator for reciprocating said elevator between an upper position and a lower position, an entrance mold conveyor on said frame and extending across said entrance and adapted to support a group of molds, a cross bar, means for mounting said cross bar on said frame for reciprocation between a first position alongside said entrance mold conveyor and a second position over said elevator, means on said frame and connected to said cross bar for so reciprocating said cross bar, means on said frame engageable by a mold of said group on said entrance mold conveyor for actuating said cross bar reciprocating means to displace said group of molds onto said elevator in said upper position thereof, means on said frame engageable by said cross bar reciprocating means in said second position thereof for actuating said elevator reciprocating means to move said elevator with said group of molds thereon into said lower position, a pusher extending across said tank, means on said frame for mounting said pusher to reciprocate between an initial position near said entrance and a final position away from said entrance, means on said frame and connected to said pusher for so reciprocating said pusher, an exit mold conveyor on said tame and extending across said exit and adapted to support a group of molds, and means in said tank for supporting and guiding successive groups of said molds displaced from said elevator toward said exit and onto said exit mold conveyor.

7. An automatic stick-confection mechanism comprising an open top brine tank having an entrance end and an exit end, an entrance conveyor extending horizontally across said entrance end, said entrance conveyor being adapted to support a group of molds, an elevator in said tank, means for moving said elevator between an upper position substantially level with said entrance conveyor and a lower position, means including a cross bar engageable with said group of molds for transferring said group of molds from a first position on said entrance conveyor to a second position on said elevator in said upper position, means engaged by a mold of said group on said entrance conveyor for actuating said transferring means, means engaged by said transferring means in said second position for actuating said elevator moving means to move said elevator with said group of molds thereon to lower position, an exit conveyor extending horizontally across said exit end, means extending through said tank from said elevator in said lower position to said exit conveyor for supporting a group of molds, a pusher engageable with said group of molds on said elevator in said lower position, and means for operating said pusher to advance said group of molds from said elevator in said lower position onto said supporting means.

8. An automatic stick-confection mechanism comprising a brine tank having an entrance and an exit, an entrance mold conveyor extending across said tank entrance, a mold elevator in said tank adjacent said entrance, means for actuating said elevator from an upper position into a lower position, first reciprocating means for transferring a group of molds from said entrance mold conveyor to said elevator in said upper position, second reciprocating means for advancing a group of molds on said elevator in said lower position from said elevator toward said exit, an exit mold conveyor extending across said tank exit, means dor directing said advancing group of molds onto said exit conveyor, and means for operating said first reciprocating means and said elevator actuating means and said second reciprocating means in sequence.

9. An automatic stick-confection mechanism compris ing a brine tank, means in said brine tank for supporting a first mold for advancement in said tank at a partly submerged predetermined level, reciprocating means supported on said tank movable from a retracted position in engagement with said first mold in retracted position on said supporting means into an advanced position in engagement with said first mold in advanced position on said supporting means and back to said retracted position out of engagement with said first mold in said advanced position on said supporting means, and means supported on said tank for lowering a second mold onto said supporting means between said first mold in said advanced position and said reciprocating means in said retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,617,630 Gay Feb. 15, 1927 1,936,584 Cobb Nov. 28, 1933 1,939,109 Davidson Dec. 12, 1933 1,969,418 McKinzie Aug. 7, 1934 1,992,135 Underwood Feb. 19, 1935 2,538,734 Patterson Ian. 16, 1951 

